How to Make TeamViewer Faster and More Reliable

This guide shows you how to speed up TeamViewer connections and reduce disconnects, especially over long distances or slow networks. You’ll learn the best settings, network tweaks, and habits to get a smoother remote desktop experience.

What You’ll Need

Admin access to both computers (to change settings and install updates)
TeamViewer installed on both devices (free for personal use)
Stable internet connection on both ends (wired is best)
Basic knowledge of your router’s settings (if you need port forwarding)

Step-by-Step

Update TeamViewer on both computers.
Old versions have bugs and slower protocols. Open TeamViewer, go to Help > Check for new version, and install any updates. Restart the app after updating.
Use a wired connection for the host computer.
Wi-Fi adds latency and packet loss. Plug the computer you’re connecting to directly into your router with an Ethernet cable. If you must use Wi-Fi, sit close to the router and avoid thick walls.
Set the connection quality to “Optimize speed.”
In the remote session window, click the gear icon (or View > Quality) and choose Optimize speed. This disables wallpaper, animations, and other visual effects, making the session much faster.
Turn off wallpaper and visual effects manually (if needed).
On the host computer, right-click the desktop > Personalize > Background, and choose a solid color. Also go to System > Advanced system settings > Performance > Settings, and select Adjust for best performance. This reduces the data TeamViewer has to send.
Use the TeamViewer mobile app only when necessary.
Mobile apps often compress the video differently and can be slower. If you’re on a phone, try the desktop app if possible. Also, avoid using mobile data; connect to Wi-Fi.
Close bandwidth-heavy applications on both sides.
Pause downloads, stop cloud sync (Dropbox, OneDrive), and close video streaming. On the host, also close unnecessary programs that might be using CPU or network.
Adjust TeamViewer’s advanced network settings.
In the main TeamViewer window, click Extras > Options > Advanced. Under Connection settings, try setting Speed to Maximum speed. Also, under Network, try changing the Incoming connections port to 5938 (the default) or another port if there’s a conflict.
Enable hardware acceleration (if supported).
In the same Advanced options, look for Use hardware acceleration (or similar) and make sure it’s enabled. This offloads video decoding to the GPU, which can speed up the session.
Set up a direct connection via port forwarding.
TeamViewer normally uses relay servers, which can be slow. To connect directly, open port 5938 TCP on your router and forward it to the host computer’s local IP. Then, in TeamViewer’s Options > Advanced > Network, enable Use the following port and set it to 5938. This often reduces latency significantly.
Use a TeamViewer account and assign devices to it.
This makes connections more reliable because TeamViewer can use UDP hole punching to establish a direct peer-to-peer link, bypassing relay servers. Go to Extras > Options > Security and assign the computer to your account.
Restart the TeamViewer service (Windows).
If the connection is sluggish, on the host computer press Win + R, type services.msc, find TeamViewer, right-click and select Restart. This clears any stuck processes.

Common Mistakes

Keeping the default quality settings. TeamViewer defaults to “Optimize balance,” which looks nice but is slower. Always switch to “Optimize speed” for fast work.
Using Wi-Fi on the host. Even a good Wi-Fi signal adds 5-20 ms of latency and can cause packet loss. A wired connection is a huge improvement.
Not closing bandwidth hogs. A background upload (like a cloud backup) can saturate your upload speed, making TeamViewer crawl.
Ignoring the host computer’s performance. If the host is slow, the remote session will be slow. Close heavy apps and consider restarting the host before connecting.
Using an old version. TeamViewer updates include performance improvements. Sticking to an outdated version is a common cause of sluggishness.

Tips

Use a VPN for extra security and sometimes speed. If you’re on a public network, a VPN can reduce throttling. However, it can also add overhead, so test both.
Reduce the remote screen resolution. On the host, lower the display resolution to 1366×768 or 1280×720. This dramatically cuts the amount of data sent.
Use “Scale to fit” on your local screen. This avoids unnecessary scrolling and makes the session feel faster.
Schedule heavy tasks for off-peak hours. If you’re transferring large files, do it when your internet isn’t busy.
Keep TeamViewer running in the background on the host. This allows you to connect immediately without waiting for the app to start.

Troubleshooting

Connection is still slow after trying the steps above:

Check your internet speed at both ends using a speed test. You need at least 1 Mbps upload on the host and 1 Mbps download on your client for a decent session.
Test with a different remote computer to see if the issue is specific to one machine.
Try using TeamViewer’s File transfer instead of remote control if you only need to move filesâ€”it’s often faster.

Connection drops frequently:

Enable Reconnect after connection loss in Options > Advanced. This will automatically reconnect if the network blips.
Check if your router has a firewall that’s blocking TeamViewer. Temporarily disable the firewall to test, then re-enable and add an exception.
If you’re using a VPN, try disconnecting it. Some VPNs interfere with TeamViewer’s peer-to-peer connection.

Cannot establish a direct connection:

Your router may not support UPnP. You’ll need to manually forward port 5938.
Check that the host computer’s firewall allows TeamViewer on port 5938.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is TeamViewer so slow on my network?

Slow TeamViewer is usually due to high latency, low bandwidth, or the use of relay servers. Switching to a direct connection (port forwarding) and optimizing quality settings usually helps.

Does TeamViewer use a lot of bandwidth?

Yes, especially with high quality settings. A typical session can use 1-5 Mbps. Reducing the quality and resolution lowers bandwidth usage.

Can I make TeamViewer faster by using a different port?

Changing the port can help if your ISP throttles certain ports, but the default 5938 is fine in most cases. The bigger factor is whether you have a direct connection.

Is TeamViewer safe for business use?

TeamViewer offers encryption and two-factor authentication. For business, it’s widely used, but you should enable all security features and use a strong password.

How do I reduce lag on a high-latency connection (e.g., connecting across the world)?

Lower the quality to “Optimize speed,” reduce the remote resolution, and close all other network activities. Also, consider using a relay server closer to the host.

Does the free version have speed limits?

No, the free version doesn’t have artificial speed limits, but it may use relay servers more often, which can be slower than direct connections.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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